“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3)
This is not a statement that receives favorable press. To say that those who learn to live with little will be happy, or that a person with a poor soul will be happy because they will have fewer problems and be more attentive to the needs of their brothers and sisters, is to go against the norm.
In a world that celebrates possessions and where material achievements are synonymous with prestige, professional success, and prosperity, it is hard to believe that this Gospel statement has any basis in reality. And as if all this were not enough, in November the Church dedicates a special day to the poor, to those who do not have the essentials to live with dignity.
We can notice two things about poverty. One thing is the scarcity of resources that keeps people from developing as dignified human beings. This pain and unfairness is not only undesirable, but it must also be restored and resolved with justice and love. That is why the Church reminds us on this day of those who have less, those chosen by the Lord to whom we owe our love and care, not only through material things. The poor are the ones who awaken us to the reality of the Kingdom, for they are the chosen ones of the Father.
On the other hand, there is poverty of spirit, which is the attitude of those who choose to live a detached life, with little or less, giving up things for the sake of others, sharing what they have so that others can obtain what they need. It is not a question of not having, but of not living attached to and focused on material things. It is not about placing value on things, nor directing our efforts and concerns toward ownership. Rather, it is about directing our desires toward sharing, not only material or spiritual goods, but our very lives as a gift to others.
It is difficult to cultivate compassion for those who have less if we do not learn to live with hearts like the poor. Sharing with those who have less comes from within the heart, as a response to feeling the pain and deprivation of our brothers and sisters as our own.
May the words of Jesus touch our hearts, and may we learn from the poverty of his Heart, which he shared with the poor.
María Bettina Raed
Vice International Director
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network